Shane & Shane - Homecoming Lyrics
Lyrics
Lord I confess that I've been a criminal
I've stolen Your breath and sang my own song
Lord I confess that I'm far from innocent
These shackles I wear I bought on my own
Scarlet sins had a crimson cost
You nailed my debt to that old rugged cross
An empty slate at the empty grave
Thank God that stone was rolled away
Lord I confess I've been a prodigal
Made for Your house but I walked my own roads
Then Jesus came He tore down my prison walls
Death came to life when He called me by name
Scarlet sins had a crimson cost
You nailed my debt to that old rugged cross
An empty slate at the empty grave
Thank God that stone was rolled
Scarlet sins had a crimson cost
You nailed my debt to that old rugged cross
An empty slate at the empty grave
Thank God that stone was rolled away
I see bright crimson robes draped over the ashes
A wide open tomb where there should be a casket
The children are singing and dancing and laughing
The Father is welcoming this is our homecoming
Roses in bloom pushed up from the embers
Rivers of tears flow from good times remembered
Families are singing and dancing and laughing
The Father is welcoming this is our homecoming
Heaven joins in with a glorious sound
And the great cloud of witnesses all gather 'round
Cause the ones that were lost are finally found
The Father is welcoming this is our homecoming
Scarlet sins had a crimson cost
You nailed my debt to that old rugged cross
An empty slate at the empty grave
Thank God that stone was rolled
Scarlet sins had a crimson cost
You nailed my debt to that old rugged cross
An empty slate at the empty grave
Thank God that stone was rolled
Video
Homecoming | The Worship Initiative feat. Keila Marin
Meaning & Inspiration
The song "Homecoming," by Shane & Shane featuring Keila Marin, released on August 5, 2022, immediately establishes itself as a profound and stirring anthem of redemption and divine welcome. It doesn't waste time with ambiguity, diving directly into a raw, personal confession that resonates deeply with the human experience of sin and separation from God. This isn't just a song; it's a meticulously crafted theological narrative set to music, inviting us into the very heart of the Gospel.
The song's opening lines lay bare the soul's admission of rebellion and self-will, "Lord I confess that I've been a criminal, I've stolen Your breath and sang my own song." This powerful imagery connects our very existence to God's life-giving Spirit, reminiscent of Genesis 2:7 where God breathes life into Adam. To "steal Your breath" is to misuse the very gift of life given by the Creator, turning away from His purpose to pursue our own desires, a profound act of spiritual defiance. The subsequent line, "These shackles I wear I bought on my own," unflinchingly acknowledges the self-inflicted nature of sin's consequences, echoing Romans 6:23 which states that "the wages of sin is death." There's no blaming external forces; the responsibility for our brokenness is claimed entirely.
Yet, this profound confession is not left to linger in despair. The song pivots beautifully to the core of Christian hope with the declaration, "Scarlet sins had a crimson cost / You nailed my debt to that old rugged cross." This verse is a direct spiritual lifeline. The "scarlet sins" immediately bring to mind Isaiah 1:18, where God promises, "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow." The "crimson cost" points unequivocally to the atoning blood of Jesus, the very substance of redemption described in 1 Peter 1:18-19, where we are ransomed "not with perishable things…but with the precious blood of Christ." The image of God nailing our debt to the cross is a vibrant picture of cancellation, much like the tearing up of a legal document, as described in Colossians 2:13-14, where Jesus "canceled the record of debt that stood against us...nailing it to the cross." The narrative continues with the glorious consequence of this sacrifice: "An empty slate at the empty grave / Thank God that stone was rolled away." This directly points to the resurrection of Christ, the ultimate proof of sin’s defeat and the assurance of our justification, a truth central to passages like Romans 4:25, which states Jesus "was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification." It signifies a complete wiping clean of our record and a fresh start.
The journey of repentance deepens with the identification as a "prodigal," a term directly evoking the famous parable from Luke 15. "Made for Your house but I walked my own roads" perfectly encapsulates the human tendency to stray from our divine design and purpose. The intervention of grace is then powerfully expressed: "Then Jesus came He tore down my prison walls / Death came to life when He called me by name." This isn't merely an abstract concept; it’s a deeply personal encounter with the Liberator. Jesus, the one prophesied in Isaiah 61:1 to "proclaim liberty to the captives," breaks the spiritual chains that bind us. The phrase "death came to life when He called me by name" speaks to the spiritual resurrection that occurs at conversion, as seen in Ephesians 2:4-5, where God makes us "alive together with Christ even when we were dead in our trespasses." Being called by name suggests an intimate, personal recognition by the Good Shepherd, as described in John 10:3.
The latter half of the song shifts from confession and atonement to a triumphant celebration of the "homecoming" itself, painting vivid, redemptive pictures. "I see bright crimson robes draped over the ashes" beautifully contrasts the depth of past sorrow (ashes symbolizing repentance and mourning, as in Job 42:6) with the splendor of new life and righteousness. These "crimson robes" could symbolize the blood of Christ covering us, or the robes of righteousness we are clothed in, transforming our lament into glory, much like Isaiah 61:3 promises "beauty for ashes." "A wide open tomb where there should be a casket" reinforces the resurrection theme, not just of Christ, but of the believer's hope for eternal life, a victory over death promised in 1 Corinthians 15:54-57.
The imagery then expands to a scene of joyous community: "The children are singing and dancing and laughing / The Father is welcoming this is our homecoming." This echoes the exuberant celebration upon the prodigal son's return in Luke 15:23-24, where the father kills the fattened calf and throws a party. It's a picture of the church, the family of God, celebrating the embrace of our heavenly Father. "Roses in bloom pushed up from the embers" further emphasizes the miraculous transformation and new life that springs from spiritual death and decay. The mention of "rivers of tears flow from good times remembered" adds a layer of tender emotion, perhaps reflecting gratitude for God's faithfulness through past trials, or the profound peace of a conscience cleared and a soul restored.
The grand scope of this homecoming becomes cosmic in its final verses. "Heaven joins in with a glorious sound / And the great cloud of witnesses all gather 'round / Cause the ones that were lost are finally found." This lifts the personal redemption story to a universal scale. Luke 15:7 and 10 speak of joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, and here that joy becomes a tangible, glorious sound. The "great cloud of witnesses" is a direct and powerful allusion to Hebrews 12:1, envisioning all those who have run the race of faith before us, cheering on every soul’s return to God. It culminates in the simple, profound truth of Luke 15 – the lost are found, and the Father is welcoming. This song is more than a piece of music; it is a profound journey through sin, sacrifice, and ultimate restoration, serving as a powerful reminder of God's relentless grace and the eternal celebration awaiting every believer in His presence. It encourages every heart to find its way back to the open arms of a welcoming Father.